Coolmain Bay is located on the south coast of Ireland about twenty miles southwest of Cork Harbour, in Co. Cork. It is set in the northwest corner of Courtmacsherry Bay immediately outside the estuary of the Argideen River that provides access to Courtmacsherry Harbour. It offers a convenient anchorage for those awaiting a tide to enter Courtmacsherry.

Although mostly used as a tide wait location, Coolmain Bay is a good anchorage in its own right that is well sheltered from the west round through north to east. Access is straightforward as the bay has the benefits of the Courtmacsherry Harbour navigation lights, is free of outlying dangers and gradually shelves up to the head of the bay.

Keyfacts for Coolmain Bay

Position and approaches

Haven position

51° 38.480' N, 008° 40.420' W

This is about a third of a mile to the northwest of the Courtmacsherry starboard marker and in the middle of the bay where about 2 metres will be found.

What is the initial fix?

This is half a mile east of Horse Rock and between it and Black Tom. It is set in the middle of the white sector of the Wood Point light. A course of 325° for 2 miles will take a vessel to the entrance.

What are the key points of the approach?

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How to get in?

Coolmain Bay sits in the northeast corner of Courtmacsherry Bay. It is entered between Wood Point and Coolmain Point and on the approaches to Courtmacsherry.

The Courtmacsherry entry provides approach directions for this haven.

From the initial fix plot a course towards Wood Point. Coolmain Bay is situated in a bight in the northwest corner of Courtmacsherry Bay between Wood Point, Coolmain Point and Lisheen Point.

The bay is to the northeast of the Courtmacsherry buoy moored off a spit extending from the north shore. Anchor according to draft and conditions in the bay.

Why visit here?

Coolmain derives its name from the Irish name ‘Cùl-meadhon’ [-main]. Cùl, cùil, or cùiltean‘ meaning ‘back of the’; ‘meadhon‘ meaning ‘middle hill’. They join to describe ‘back of the middle hill’.

The bay is overlooked by Coolmain Castle that came to be connected in recent times to another world famous ‘magic kingdom’. It was originally built in the early 15th century by the De Courcy family, but in the following century, they lost it to the MacCarthy Reaghs, the Princes of Desmond. Over the years it passed through the hands of a number of families including that of the Earls of Cork before it was taken by Oliver Cromwell in the middle of the 17th century. In the early 1900s, it was owned by a popular Irish-American novelist and poet Don Byrne. Although he was a New Yorker, his wife, Dolly Cadogan, was formally from the area. He sold it to the Hollywood photographer Bob Willoughby who carried out extensive refurbishments to the property.

In the late 1980s the Nephew of Walt Disney, Roy Disney, bought Coolmain Castle bringing the 'magic kingdom' connection. It is thought Disney paid nearly half a million punts on the original purchase and then lavished millions of dollars on making it a thoroughly modern and ultra-comfortable home. Today it is a home of 10,000 square feet with nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a separate three bedroom residence for caretakers all on 40 acres. Roy retreated here with his wife, four children, and 16 grandchildren on a regular basis. He was also a world-class sailor and raced his 86-foot sloop competitively up until his passing in December 2009.

Coolmain Bay’s main use from a sailing perspective is that of a Courtmacsherry tide wait location. It is, however, an excellent and convenient anchorage in northerly conditions and should not be overlooked.

What facilities are available?

There are no services available in this remote secluded bay except for The Pink Elephant fine food restaurant overlooking the bay from Lisheen Point. Within the river, the village of Courtmacsherry offers most basic provisions, a choice of pubs and a post office.

Any security concerns?

Never an issue known to have occurred to a vessel in Coolmain Bay. The Pink Elephant restaurant mounted a live Coolmaine Bay webcam to enable the bay to be seen remotely.

With thanks to:

Gareth Thomas, Yacht Jalfrezi. Photographs with thanks to Niall at the Pink Elephant and Burke Corbett.